Author: Tina Tilhard
The Central Land Council is deeply concerned that NT Minister for Water Joshua Burgoyne has announced significant changes to the Western Davenport Water Allocation Plan without consulting with traditional owners.
CLC General Manager for Professional Services Dr Josie Douglas said, “There was no warning of the changes announced just before Christmas and no effort by the government to speak to traditional owners.
“With holidays looming and cultural activities in the region well underway, the Central Land Council is unable to seek the views of those most likely to be impacted by the changes, the traditional owners of the region.”
Native Title Holders for the Singleton station area were so anxious about the potential impact of large-scale water extraction on groundwater dependent ecosystems and sacred sites through the Singleton Water license that they asked the CLC to help them appeal the licence in court.
They are eagerly waiting for the NT Court of Appeal’s decision.
“In recent years, the Central Land Council has urged the government to consult Aboriginal people appropriately and regularly about water planning and decision making.
“Not just pay lip service to Australia’s first people who have had stewardship of the lands and waters of the Western Davenport region for millennia and whose future livelihoods, culture and sustainable living depends on water,” said Dr Douglas.
The CLC will continue to represent and defend the rights and interests of traditional owners across Central Australia and the Barkly to ensure their voices are heard and concerns are not bypassed.
The CLC will consult with traditional owners early in the New Year and will take guidance and direction on what messages they want to send to the government about the changes.
Dr Douglas said, “The challenge for the new CLP government is whether it will govern for some or govern for all. The proof will be in their willingness to consult and be held to account for their decision by all Territorians.”
The elected grass-roots representatives of remote communities in Central Australia today took time out of their council meeting near Uluru to vote Yes to a voice to parliament.
Central Land Council delegates who had not yet voted in their remote communities cast their votes at the very place where Aboriginal leaders from around the country voted on the Uluru Statement from the Heart in May 2017.
“I was here six years ago, when we invited Australians to join us on a journey towards voice, treaty and truth-telling,” CLC delegate and Uluru traditional owner, Sammy Wilson, said after casting his vote in the building that hosted the Uluru Convention.
“Our council overwhelmingly voted Yes this morning because we know that when decision makers listen to our voices we end up with policies that help us, not harm us, and money is spent wisely.”
“The voice is our best hope in generations to turn our lives around,” CLC chair Matthew Palmer said.
“It won’t come again in my lifetime, and I ask to you all to write Yes for all our children when you go into that voting booth.”
CLC executive member Barbara Shaw was one of the delegates at the Uluru Convention and has worked against family violence in Alice Springs town camps with the Tangentyere Women’s Safety Group.
“I have waited all my life for this moment, but I’ll wait a little longer so I can vote Yes in my home town of Alice Springs on 14 October,” Ms Shaw said.
“The No campaign of fear, scaremongering and lies has hurt and confused many, including Aboriginal people,” Ms Shaw said.
“It reminds me of John Howard’s threats that people would lose their back yards if native title got up. He was pitting Australians against Australians for base political gain, and the No campaign is no different.
“I appeal to you to ignore the No camp’s talk of war and focus on what’s actually on the ballot – an advisory body to help us achieve outcomes together,” she said.
“Please accept our simple offer of peace and unity. Walk with us for a better future where our families can live in harmony and children can play on a level playing field.”
Council members undertook a round-trip of some 20 kilometres from their meeting on the land trust surrounding Uluru to cast their votes at the resort town of Yulara.
Contact: Elke Wiesmann | 0417 877 579| media@clc.org.au
Matthew Palmer, from Corkwood Bore outstation near Alice Springs, has been elected chair of the Central Land Council.
He follows in the footsteps of former CLC chair and Anangu youth worker Kunmanara Hoosan, who passed away late last year.
“My brother will always be in my heart,” Mr Palmer told the land council delegates at their meeting at Tennant Creek.
The former chair of Alice Springs native title representative body Lhere Artepe announced he will be campaigning for an Aboriginal voice to parliament.
“I want to put the voice of my people to the parliament. It’s time for us to have a say in the laws and policies that affect us,” he said.
“We’ve tried everything else -promises, petitions, marches – and nothing has closed the gap.
“I will campaign for a big yes vote in the referendum because when we are being heard we will achieve positive change on the ground, in Alice Springs and in the bush.”
The former court interpreter speaks Central Arrernte, Alyawarr and English.
“I’ve worked all my life, since I was 16, and it’s kept me out of trouble.
I have been looking after my people since my twenties.” Mr Palmer was one of the youngest CLC delegates ever when Alice Springs outstation residents chose him to represent them on the land council.
“I was busy and I loved it. I was on the executive and I’m happy to be back,” he said. Mr Palmer also plans to “talk up for better housing.
“It’s really important. We still live in a tin shed – me, my family, my children and their children”.
He grew up at Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) and believes it is important for people to tell the stories of where they were raised.
“We get the stories from our grandparents and I’m really proud of that.
We keep the land strong.” Warren Williams, from Yuendumu, remains the CLC’s deputy chair. The NT Electoral Commission carried out the election and the presiding officer was Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation co-chair Barbara Shaw.
The council also chose two CLC representatives for the grants committee of the NTAIC. Today’s council meeting will be followed by a meeting of the CLC’s 11-member executive committee tomorrow, which will discuss the council’s voice campaign.
Contact: Elke Wiesmann | 0417 877 579| media@clc.org.au
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Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT (APO NT) have endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Voice to Parliament at their final meeting of 2022.
The NT Intervention was discriminatory and left a lasting hurt on Aboriginal people across the Northern Territory. In response, in 2010, APO NT was formed to give Aboriginal people, communities and organisations their voice back.
“Given APO NT’s history in advocating for Aboriginal people and their right to self-determination, we fully support a Constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament. We have been part of the journey for the Uluru Statement from the Heart since the very beginning and continue to advocate for strong measures that honour our rights on this land. We know that the Intervention would have never happened if we had had a Voice to Parliament,” said Dr John Paterson, Chief Executive Officer of Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT.
“It is vital that everyone respects the long history of Aboriginal people seeking to have a say on matters that impact them. Just think of everything that has come from the Territory- Gwalwa Dariniki Petition, the Yirrkala Bark Petitions, the Barunga Statement. We are proud of our history of fighting for our sovereignty and for self-determination. The Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Voice to Parliament are further steps along the road – to a better future for all,” said Joe Martin-Jard, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Land Council.
“As Senator Patrick Dodson has explained, the bar for passing a referendum is high and we need non-Indigenous people to join us. We believe that what we are seeking is simple, fair and just. We want due recognition in the founding document of the Australian nation. We cannot wait any longer, history is calling,” said Phillip Brown, acting Chief Executive Officer of North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.
The chair of the Central Land Council warmly welcomes the Northern Territory Government’s efforts to shut the revolving prison door on Aboriginal children and adults.
“Lifting the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years of age means that the cruel practice of jailing 10-year-old children ceases,” CLC chair Robert Hoosan said.
“It’s a long-overdue and welcome step on the way to raising the age to 14 years, in line with more enlightened and civilised societies.”
“I hope the next NT budget will back this important reform with the resources for prevention, therapy and diversion needed to make it a success.”
The legislation introduced today delivers on a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the NT.
“We should all be proud to become the first jurisdiction in Australia to not just pay lip service to, but actually legislate, raising the age of criminal responsibility,” said Mr Hoosan.
The CLC also applauds the repeal of mandatory sentencing for some offences.
“Our members have opposed this unfair, wasteful and ineffective legislation for a quarter of a century,” he said.
“A smart justice system takes individual circumstances into account and offers alternatives to jail to offenders who can be rehabilitated.
“This reform will make the Territory a fairer and safer place if it is backed by effective and well-funded behavioural change programs.”
Among the legal changes introduced into in the NT Legislative Assembly are anti-vilification measures and a positive duty to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation.
“These anti-discrimination reforms will avert harm from all Territorians and benefit Aboriginal people in particular,” said Mr Hoosan.
“I commend Attorney-General Chansey Paech for listening to our members and pushing these reforms through against strong opposition.”
13 October 2022
The four NT Land Councils held a historic meeting on Gurindji country, on Thursday, 25 August 2022.
Executive Council Members discussed a range of topics including Uluru Statement from the Heart, Voice to Parliament, Northern Territory Treaty, how to address the poor turnout in remote Aboriginal communities at the last election, remote housing and homelands and imminent rent increases for remote communities planned by the Northern Territory Government, and township leasing arrangements on Aboriginal land under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
Chair of the Central Land Council, Mr Robert Hoosan, said he was proud to host Executive Council Members from Tiwi Land Council, Anindilyakwa Land Council and Northern Land Council at Kalkaringi.
“Gurindji Country is the birthplace of Land Rights and this week the anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk Off. History was made 56 years ago this week and history was made again today,” Mr Hoosan said.
Senator Patrick Dodson, Special Envoy for Reconciliation and the Implementation of the Uluru Statement, and Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, spoke about a range of matters including the Voice to Parliament. The combined Executives passed a resolution supporting implementation of the Uluṟu Statment from the Heart in full and changing the Australian Constitution to enshrine a Voice to Parliament within this term of Government.
Chairman of the Northern Land Council, Mr Samuel Bush-Blanasi said he was proud to support this historic resolution. “We have been waiting too long for the Voice. I heard Prime Minister Albanese speak at Garma about changing the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I’m glad to see things are moving forward again.”
Representatives from the Australian Electoral Commission were also invited to attend to address Executives Members on how to ‘close the gap’ in voter enrolment and participation rates between urban and remote areas of the NT and other states.
Mr Gibson Farmer-Illortaminni said this is an important issue. “I heard today as many as 25,000 Territorians are not enrolled to vote. We need to do better. This is about getting our young men and women involved and educating our people about having a say in elections for the Territory and Commonwealth governments,” Mr Farmer-Illortaminni said. “Things are not much better for older people, the system often fails them too.”
The Executive Council Members also discussed funding for remote housing and the Northern Territory Government’s plans to impose a large increase in rent in remote Aboriginal communities commencing in September. Members passed a resolution calling on the NT Government to implement a moratorium on the rent increase until further consultations have occurred on the rent framework, a permanent subsidy is put in place and rates per room are brought into line with levels proposed in consultations in 2018.
Council Members also welcomed the Government’s $100 million election commitment for NT homelands. Members passed a resolution seeking a commitment from the Commonwealth Government to ongoing funding for homelands and to co-design a process for the distribution of homelands funding.
“This is important for all Aboriginal people on homelands and for Aboriginal people in the Anindilyakwa region,” Mr Thomas Amagula, Deputy Chair of Anindilyakwa Land Council, said.
The combined Executives also discussed township leasing arrangements on Aboriginal land. Chairman of the Northern Land Council noted that funding for townships leases and the cost of administering these leases comes from the Aboriginals Benefits Account.
“The Government should pay for this somewhere else. It should not come from ABA – that is Aboriginal money,” said Mr Bush-Blanasi. Executive members agreed to send a delegation to Canberra to discuss these issues with Minister Burney, Minister McCarthy, Senator Dodson and Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour.
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Central Land Council chief executive Les Turner has paid tribute to the High Court judge who wrote the lead judgement in the landmark Mabo case.
Sir Gerard Brennan’s judgement recognised for the first time under Australian law that the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to their land according to their own laws and customs not only predated, but survived, settlement and continue to this day.
Mr Turner said Sir Gerard, who died on Wednesday, on the eve of the 30th Mabo anniversary, would be always remembered for the historic decision.
“We will never forget that Sir Gerard exposed the lie of Terra Nullius at the heart of Australia’s legal system,” he said.
“By the time he handed down the Mabo decision in 1992, he had heard many appeals brought by the enemies of land rights in the Northern Territory.”
Sir Gerard is being remembered as a brilliant and compassionate man who in retirement campaigned for social justice and advocated for a national integrity commission.
In his Mabo judgement he wrote “It is imperative in today’s world that the common law should neither be, nor be seen to be, frozen in an age of racial discrimination”.
“The fiction by which the rights and interests of Indigenous (people) in land were treated as non-existent was justified by a policy which has no place in the contemporary law of this country.”
Mr Turner paid his respects to the family of Sir Gerard on behalf of the CLC. “I hope his children take comfort in the knowledge that thirty years on, their father’s judgment continues to set precedence in our continuing fights for our land.”
The chair of the Central Land Council, Robert Hoosan, has congratulated the Northern Territory’s four federal representatives on their election success. Mr Hoosan said he is particularly proud of the trio of female Aboriginal politicians.
“Marion, Malarndirri and Jacinta have campaigned hard for their victories and made history,” he said. “Each made their case strongly during our recent council meetings. I wish them all well. “It’s so good to have three Aboriginal women represent us in Canberra, and our elected members look forward to meeting with them again as soon as possible.”
Mr Hoosan plans to work closely with the new member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, and NT senators Malarndirri McCarthy and Jacinta Price to improve the lives of people in remote communities and town camps. “I want to work with them on creating real jobs and building decent houses in our remote communities, and making our communities safe and healthy places for all residents,” he said.
“From climate change to water security, the previous government has left us with a lot of challenges that we must now tackle together if we want to have a future on our country. There is no time to lose.”
Mr Hoosan, an elder and youth worker who teaches bush skills to young men at risk, believes that implementing the Uluru Statement for the Heart will change lives. “I would not be interested if it was about symbolism,” he said. “We need a voice to the parliament so we can let Canberra know which practical solutions we think will work for our people and which are doomed to fail.” Mr Hoosan said he wants elected representatives to leave the old politics of division behind.
“I hope we call all work together and make the voice a reality – for all Australians,” he said.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is an Australian government agency based in Canberra.
The objective of the ANAO is to support accountability and transparency in the Australian Government sector.
The ANAO is currently reviewing the governance of Land Councils in the Northern Territory.
Governance means doing things the proper way in organisations, according to rules, culture and the law.
We would like to hear your views on how the Central Land Council (CLC):
- Manages the operations of the CLC on behalf of Aboriginal people
- Conducts consultation with Aboriginal people
- Helps Aboriginal people and traditional owners manage and look after country
- Reports on the CLC’s performance
- And any other views you may have on how the CLC works
Please provide your responses before 30 September 2022 by:
• sending an email to the ANAO at clc@anao.gov.au or
• calling the ANAO on 0476 249 221 or
• submitting your comments on the ANAO website at www.anao.gov.au/clc
Any information you provide is confidential – it will not be shared with anyone outside of the ANAO.
Once we have finished collecting information, we will write a report that will be presented to the Australian Parliament in March 2023. It may contain some recommendations to help improve the governance of the CLC.
The Interim Board of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation (NTAIC) met for the first time this week, on 27-28 April, in Darwin.
The NTAIC is the centrepiece of the reforms to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (ALRA) passed by the Australian Parliament in December 2021. It gives Aboriginal control over beneficial payments from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA).
“I welcomed the reforms to the Land Rights Act when they passed last year,” Interim Board member and Chairman of the Northern Land Council, Mr Samuel Bush-Blanasi said. “I was there when the Land Councils discussed this at Kalkaringi in 2016, at Barunga in 2018 and in Alice Springs in 2021. Now the real work starts,” said Mr Bush-Blanasi.
The first order of business this week was the election of an Interim Chair. The Board took nominations and appointed Mr Samuel Bush-Blanasi and Ms Barbara Shaw as Interim Co-Chairs.
“The investments we make through the corporation will generate returns back to the corporation and create sustainability”, said Interim Co-Chair Ms Barbara Shaw.
The Interim Board comprises eight members nominated by the four NT Land Councils and two independent members appointed by the Minister for Indigenous Australians and the Minister for Finance. The Interim Board is responsible for appointing two more independent members, bringing the total number on the Interim Board to 12.
Interim Board member and Chair of the Tiwi Land Council Mr Gibson Farmer Illortaminni said the new corporation aims to help get grants to communities quicker than the current arrangements.
As set out in the Land Rights Act, the NTAIC will receive grant funding of $180 million over the first three years of operation. Once it has developed and tabled in Parliament a Strategic Investment Plan, the NTAIC will receive an endowment of $500 million.
The Board will appoint an Investment Committee to give advice on major investments, an Audit and Risk Committee and a committee to consider grants. The Interim Board will work with the existing ABA Advisory Committee to maximise opportunities for a new, accessible, efficient and culturally appropriate beneficial payments program.
Chair of the Anindilyakwa Land Council, Mr Tony Wurramarrba AO, said “this is an historic and long overdue milestone for Aboriginal people in the NT and in order to be successful the Board must ensure that it applies the highest standards of governance and accountability for all decisions.”
The NTAIC will commence operations following the appointment of the remaining two independent members and the Investment Committee, or after 12 months from Royal Assent on 13 December 2022, whichever comes first.
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Alekarenge students are getting job-ready without having to leave their community, thanks to an innovative horticulture work experience trial.
The Alekarenge work experience pilot program is a partnership between Alekarenge Horticulture Pty Ltd and Centrefarm.
It helps middle and senior school students in the community south of Tennant Creek to gain valuable industry experience.
The students learn to grow crops such as garlic, pumpkins, cabbages, zucchini and watermelons alongside adult workers on the Aboriginal-owned farm near the community and also study horticulture at school.
Economic stimulus funding from the Aboriginals Benefit Account, administered by the Central Land Council, has allowed the project to expand its farm.
The project is using the $1,619,000 grant to buy equipment, build infrastructure and pay wages.
It has seen the first 10 trainees from the community graduate with a Certificate 1 in Agrifood Operations last year.
It has also sold fresh produce to Aboriginal-owned supermarkets in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Alekarenge’s Mirnirri Store.
The students also sold the store zucchini chocolate muffins and zucchini fritters they made.
“The funding will go a long way towards providing training and employment opportunities,” Centrefarm’s Joe Clarke said.
The work experience trial aims to offer fulltime work for six to 10 students, or a higher number of parttime placements, before it concludes in 2024.
The CLC’s economic stimulus funding has assisted 14 Aboriginal businesses and organisations with a combined total of more than $17 million in approved grants in 2021.
The money is helping to set up new ranger groups out bush, fund an Aboriginal economic development forum in Alice Springs, support another horticulture business near Ti Tree and kick-start or expand several social enterprises.
One of them has created some competition for Central Australia’s only funeral service.
Desert Funerals, a joint venture between Ngurratjuta and Centrecorp, aims to bring down the high costs of farewelling loved ones.
“Desert Funerals brings new competition to the market whilst committing to culturally appropriate and affordable funerals,” Centrecorp chief executive, Randle Walker, said.
The plan for a not-for-profit, culturally sensitive funeral service for remote communities and town was hatched in late 2018 and the service moved into an office near the Alice Springs cemetery last October.
Almost $400,000 in economic stimulus funding has helped the social enterprise get started, with the business holding its first funeral service in February.
Mr Walker said the funds were “instrumental in assisting Desert Funerals to become a credible alternative funeral provider through funding for hearses, building alterations and funeral equipment”.
Tennant Creek is not missing out on stimulus funding either.
When the Julalikari Council’s Jajjikari Café re-opened at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre in early 2020, after it had been closed for five years, the CLC’s stimulus funding allowed it to branch out into street food.
The Jajjikari Café smoko truck is literally a vehicle to train two Aboriginal workers in hospitality and customer service.
“The smoko truck drives around to businesses and the community living areas, serving home made fresh treats,” Julalikari’s Jacqulin Pereira said.
The $190,000 grant also paid for equipment for outdoor film nights and music events, a stage and a jumping castle for the school holidays.
The project goes some way towards meeting the demand for Aboriginal tourism experiences and quality catering services in the town.
The CLC’s economic stimulus project was made possible by an injection of $36.7 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account in November 2020. For more information email aba.stimulus@clc.org.au, call (08) 8951 0667 or, or go to https://www.clc.org.au/aba-economic-stimulus-package/